Dallas City Council passes restrictive gas drilling ordinance

Dallas Morning News | Randy Lee Loftis

Update, 2:33 p.m.: The council has adopted the plan commission’s recommendation for a 1,500-foot setback between wells and homes. Council Member Scott Griggs’ motion, which includes an ability for the council to reduce the setback in particular cases with a two-thirds vote, passed 9-6.

The council is hearing public comments before it votes on a new gas-drilling ordinance. Mayor Mike Rawlings said the council has already heard 100 hours of public input in the long runup to today’s vote, suggesting that nothing really remains except to hash out the final version.

The question is whether the council will go with the City Plan Commission’s recommendation of a 1,500-foot setback between drill sites and homes or a shorter distance. The city’s current ordinance requires 300 feet.